Alliance Data expansion expected to create 700 jobs

Alliance Data Retail Services officials last week announced the company plans to expand at Easton and add 700 new employees by 2018.

LORI WINCE, ThisWeek Community News

Alliance Data Retail Services officials last week announced the company plans to expand at Easton and add 700 new employees by 2018.

The city of Columbus plans to invest $8 million in the site over the next 10 years by offering a 65 percent, 10-year income-tax credit.

Columbus City Council is expected to hear first reading on the income-tax credit July 14, with a second reading and potential vote July 21, according to Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman's office.

The Alliance Data project is expected to "retain 1,300 full-time jobs with an annual payroll of approximately $124.4 million and will create 700 new full-time permanent positions with an estimated annual payroll of $52.5 million," according to a press release from the city of Columbus.

The new jobs, which are expected to have an average annual salary of $75,000, would generate an estimated $13,125,000 in income-tax revenue during the 10 years of the incentive. The value of the incentive is $8,531,250, with the city retaining $4,593,750 in income-tax revenue during the 10-year period, according to Coleman's office.

More incentives could be on the way.

"We are seeking a variety of incentives that include tax credits tied to creating the approximately 700 new positions, and other economic development incentives from both local and state entities," Alliance Data spokeswoman Rachel Stultz said in an email.

Stultz said she could not disclose further details of the incentives, including the income-tax credit.

"We have worked collaboratively with local and state officials regarding our expansion plans and believe that there is tremendous mutual benefit for both the public sector and, obviously, Alliance Data with this incentives plan being approved," she said in an email.

Alliance Data Retail Services is a division of Dallas-based Alliance Data Corp. The company provides "branded credit-card programs, with more than 130 marketing-driven private label, co-brand and commercial programs in partnership with many of North America's best-known brands," Stultz said.

Alliance Data on June 24 announced it plans to break ground in November and open three new buildings totaling 550,000 square feet on 40 acres at Easton Square Place.

The project is expected to proceed in three phases, with the final phase done by December 2018.

The company is expected to invest $80 million in the project, according to Coleman's office.

Alliance Data has 3,100 employees in central Ohio at offices in Easton, Reynoldsburg, Westerville and Whitehall, according to a company release.